Thought-provoking

I've been enjoying reading Jessie's posts about their latest trip to Ethiopia. Then tonight some one's blog sent me here, reading about an Indian who goes home once a year to give out the Gospel. Read his story. It's worth it.

Three years ago....

I had been having contractions 6 minutes apart for three hours already.... and my water didn't break for another 3 hours...

Happy Birthday, Baby Dragon #1!!

Wash me with hyssop...

Exodus 12:21-24 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite [you]. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

Hubby and I are working on reading through the Bible this year.... Anyway, middle of last month landed us in Exodus 12, dealing with the first Passover. As we were reading through the verses above, I had one of those *ding--light going on* moments that I thought I'd share.. but first a bit of background.

Back when I was in 5th grade, we were attending Newport Baptist Church--very near the homestead of the Knipe family. The church tossed out a challenge to us kids: memorize Psalm 51 and bring 3 visitors to SS between now (the fall)and the following summer & the church would sponsor us for summer camp. I still remember c-o-l-d winter mornings, mom waiting with me for the bus drilling me on Psalm 51. :-) Well, I never went to camp, but I did get the major part of Psalm 51 down cold. It starts: Have mercy upon me oh God, according to thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities & cleanse me from my sin for I acknowledge my transgressions & my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest & be clear when thou judgest. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness..........

So last month as hubby and I are reading in Exodus 12 about the Passover, the hyssop imagery hit me... hard. See, Psalm 51 has always been my favorite "repentance" passage. Purge me with hyssop. I've kinda viewed it as the OT equivalent of 1 John 1:9 ...if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive--especially with David's reference to the restoration of the joy of salvation. But as it occurred to me, that (the believer's repentance) might not be the big point.

Ultimately, the hyssop imagery is salvific. It wasn't the hyssop plant itself that was in focus--it was the blood in which the hyssop was dipped. The Israelites didn't have to stand outside all night, dipping the hyssop & re-applying blood to the doorposts. They were to do it once & then stay inside. The blood did the work. So, too, for me today. 'Tis the washing in His blood that makes me whiter than snow. I don't have to keep dipping the hyssop, so to speak. I'm forgiven--freed, by His blood.

Bottom line?? It's not the hyssop that was so important... it was the blood of the Lamb.


****Re-Posted**** Been reading through the OT again... been meaning to look for the hyssop post. Stumbled across it tonight... so here it is again!

Ma-Lin-Da

Ma-lin-DA

Ma-LIN-Da

Ma-Linda

Melinda!!!

Mommy, You name is MAlinda. Daddy name is Paul. I Kenneth. Hannah is....um... Hannah.

So quoth Baby Dragon #1. :-)

For Aaron....

Our Mountain of Strength

Aaron, our son - "Mountain of strength",
A gift from our Lord this year,
So many months of hopes and dreams,
Are now dissolved into tears.

But how can we cry? How can we sorrow?
You are face to face with the Lord!
And though you are gone to your Heavenly home,
We are still bound by love's strong cord.

Let your body sleep; your soul rejoice and sing,
You do not see through a glass darkly today,
We praise God for you, and expect to praise Him with you,
When we reach Heaven one day.

Our thoughts and dreams must adapt to God's will,
You will not be forgotten, though your time here was brief.
Oh Lord be our Rock, our "Mountain of Strength",
And comfort us in our grief.




Yes, my SIL wrote it for the program for the funeral on Friday.

Prayers please....

I wasn't going to mention this on-line, but since she has herself.......

My SIL and her husband lost their baby yesterday. She had been due on the 21st... everything was fine until Monday--suddenly no movement from the baby. Ultrasounds could find no heart beat. She was to be induced yesterday afternoon. I just can't imagine... but the Lord's grace will be sufficient for them, even in this.

To borrow her words: Obviously we have many hard decisions to make in the next several days, and many more hard moments to face. Your prayers on our behalf are greatly appreciated.

UPDATE:

Just got off the phone with my SIL. He was born yesterday at 5:20pm. Aaron Gabriel. Funeral will be Friday at 1pm. Aaron: Mountain of strength. She said "they had been thinking of that name b/c he kicked so strongly while she was carrying him. Now they need one." Lord, have mercy.